5 keys for the Knicks in first-round matchup against Atlanta Hawks
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson dribbles against Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum during the second half of an NBA game on April 6 in Atlanta. Credit: AP/Colin Hubbard
The Knicks' first-round playoff matchup with the Atlanta Hawks starting Saturday may have come as a surprise with the final day scores shifting the expected chance to try to extend their 13-game winning streak against Toronto. Any notion that the Hawks wanted this series would have to mean that they expected the Celtics' G League version to beat a full-strength Orlando Magic squad.
But the two teams have film to study, having just met in the final week of the season with the Knicks surviving for a 108-105 win in Atlanta. That game ended with CJ McCollum banking in a halfcourt shot just a fraction of a second late. So are the two that hair-thin close? Here are five keys that might tell the story of the matchup.
1. Paint power
You can quibble with how the Knicks protected Mitchell Robinson this season, but you can’t argue that it hasn’t worked out. Robinson has stayed healthy and has been more effective than maybe at any point in his career. In less than 20 minutes in that April 6 meeting with the Hawks he had 12 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass, three blocks and two steals. Atlanta uses 6-10 Onyeka Okongwu at center and he has become a three-point threat, but struggled to slow Karl-Anthony Towns, who averaged 28.5 points per game against Atlanta, his highest output against any team and 13.5 rebounds. In the first game this season Towns had 36 points which includes 17 of 18 free throws, by far his most attempts in a game all season. Teams have put wings on Towns at times with some success, but the cross-matches are a risk with Josh Hart shooting threes at a better rate than any of the Knicks' starters.
2. Does a Brunson stopper exist?
Let’s get this out of the way first. The answer is no. Dyson Daniels is an elite defensive talent and adding Nickeil Alexander-Walker into the mix this season gave Atlanta two options. But the subject of Daniels being the answer to Brunson arose last season when Brunson shot 8-for-18 and 5-for-15 in the first two meetings of the season. He answered with efficient 34 and 36-point efforts the next two times they faced each other. And in this latest meeting last week, after a slow start Brunson scored 17 points in the final 6:13 of the game to finish with 30 points and 13 assists to lead the Knicks to the win and leave Daniels shaking his head.
3. Bench strength
The Knicks rebuilt the roster last summer in an effort to correct a problem: bench struggles. This season the starting five has often put the team in a hole, but the Knicks have gotten production from a number of pieces off the bench. Some has come from a healthy Robinson, as well as Deuce McBride and Landry Shamet. But Jordan Clarkson, after early struggles, has emerged as a key piece with his scoring ability and surprisingly tenacious defense since the All-Star break. Jose Alvarado likely will be a situational piece but has provided an energy burst at times. Atlanta has been missing center Jock Landale since he suffered a high ankle sprain on April 1 and Jonathan Kuminga has been up and down as he was in Golden State. Buddy Hield shot 12-for-18 Sunday as Atlanta sat their rotation pieces. Since joining the Hawks at the trade deadline he had one field goal before Sunday.
4. Wingstop, Part 2
The Knicks acquired OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to match up with the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Boston, seen as the hurdle for any team in the East two years ago. And maybe they still are, but in the meantime the duo, along with Hart, will be tasked with stopping the dangerous Atlanta wings, Jalen Johnson and Alexander-Walker. Anunoby had a stellar year defensively and has emerged as the clear third option on offense for the Knicks. No one on the Knicks was able to slow Alexander-Walker in that last meeting as he scored 36 points. Bridges rose up in the postseason last year. The Knicks could use it on both ends this time.
5. Set the tone
The Hawks have used their athleticism to create the fifth-ranked pace in the NBA and the Knicks, despite the urgings of Mike Brown to run, ranked 25th. Atlanta will want to run and play with pace, not just in the halfcourt. But when the teams last met, Hawks coach Quin Snyder noted the difficulty they had trying to run against the Knicks. "It goes back to us getting stops and getting rebounds,” Snyder said. The Knicks' edge on the boards and the ability of Brunson and Towns to draw fouls negate the speed.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
